TRICKSTER guitarist Steve Brown recently spoke with Tulsa Music Stream with his company of nearly 30 years Eddie Van Halen. He said in part (as transcribed BLABBERMOUTH.NET). “It’s worrying to think, first of all, that he’s not here anymore. That’s the hardest thing for me, and I think for most of us. The boy was our superhero. He was my friend, but man, I was always caught. a moment where I would go Eddie Van Halen. I remember myself and PJ: [Farley, TRIXTER bassist] being behind the scenes a [VAN HALEN] concert once and it was one of the first times I brought PJ: really hang. And that was just me PJ: back in the dressing room Eddie Van Halen. And he was getting hot. And I think Ed went to the bathroom and i just looked PJ: and i go ‘Are you kidding me?’
“Ed was just the coolest, nicest, sweetest guy to me and my family, my friends, all. And the biggest compliment I ever got from him was him [would tell me],Steve:, you are part of the family. Me and my brother, we love you, man.’ It was always the most wonderful thing where he would say. “Man, you’re part of the family.” And he always knew he could always call me at any time to film that shit.
“Look man, when you’re a band guy, sometimes you have to talk to another band guy because we’re talking the same language, whether it’s your singer, your record company, your producer. Sometimes you need someone to go crazy with and we’ve done that a lot with each other.
“I think a lot of people [say], and you have heard this story. “Be careful of meeting your heroes because they will probably let you down.” The greatest thing in the world that happened to me was a meeting my hero I wouldn’t be here without it Eddie Van Halen. It is God’s honest truth. He was the single biggest influence behind me, the driving force behind wanting to do it and do it at the level that I’m still doing it now. And so meeting him and him being so sweet… The first time I met him, man, he just walked up to me, and it was in 1991. NAMM: show, and he came up, came on stage, shook my hand and said, “Hey, me Ed. He didn’t say, “Hey, it’s me.” Eddie Van Halen. He simply said. “Hey, it’s me Ed. And that’s really… Anyone who’s ever met him and ever been friends with him, that’s what he says, and that’s what you call him…
“Reason Ed and I was hooked no because of the music. Yes, I met him at the best moment of my life. I was number 1 MTV: with “One in a Million” and: “give me good”… But that’s not what we connected with. I immediately started telling him some funny dirty jokes and he just laughed and laughed. And it was always the thing where we always just told each other funny jokes. And it wasn’t like, “Hey, Ed. Can you show me how to play? “I’m the only one”? Can you show me how you do it?’ Never, man. It was always “How’s your family?” how is Val? It was just ahead Wolf was going to be born. He was going to be a father. So it was about family. It wasn’t about the music because all would just bother him about it… But the bottom line of it all was that he was just a fun, warm guy, and a regular guy…
Steve: has talked about himself before Eddie Van Halen friendship in a 2021 interview with The Rock Shop With Ralph. Then he said: “When I bought my house and moved in and built my studio, I went out to see. VAN HALEN and my wife and I were inside Ed’s dressing room and I had that great picture [taken] with me and him. That was the week I bought my house [was] construction of the studio. And I told him, I said. “Yeah man, I’m building my studio!” And he goes. “What are you? You’re building something to make demos?” And I go. “No, man. I am building a studio, just like you. I said. “You have 5150. My studio will be 6160. And began to crack. And he was so happy. We [had] lots of talk about our studios and making records.
“The most important thing is that Ed He taught me to always write, to continue creating music,” he continued. “And he would always be. I’m creating new music.” And that was one. And one of the biggest things Ed — and Alex: [Van Halen] – I was always taught that… Ed would always say.Steve:, we are musicians. We’re making music, mom. That’s what we do. Whatever it is. He didn’t give a damn. He never gave a damn if it sold ten million records or sold two million. We make music for ourselves first. And if the people like it… And that was one of the biggest lessons I learned from him. And of course the biggest inspiration for building my studio was when he built his studio. And to be able to have a place where you’re in control and you can make music whenever you want, 24-7. And that’s what I’m doing here. And that is one of the greatest inspirations and gifts that I have company with Ed Van Halen, that he taught me that. And he wanted me to build my own studio and encouraged me. And that’s always a joke he had 5150 and i have 6160“.
Brown also discussed his friendship Eddie Van Halen In an interview with Sound Matters, conducted just days after the iconic guitarist’s death. Then he said:[Eddie] was the best. And to clarify, I made friends with him. It happened a lot very different from these guys you see who might have met him once or twice. I see a lot of these guys online. I had a relationship with him for almost 30 years. And the coolest thing I can say is that he always said:Steve:, you are family. You are a family. He would call my house when he was on tour, whatever that was “Equilibrium” tour or ’98 tour or 2004 when he was even in a really bad place. But I can only tell you, he loved my wife, he loved my friends. PJ: from TRICKSTER, we communicated with him. Some of the other guys in my group met him and spent time with him. He treated everyone like a normal person because that’s it Ed was, and that’s all he ever wanted to be.
“Listen, we can talk all about music, gear, his innovations, how he inspired the world to play guitar. But what can I say, I know the boy and I loved the boy and he loved me and he. loved his friends and people that were family like I told you,” he continued. “And that’s the biggest thing because he was that boy That smile was as real as it gets. He wasn’t an act. He was never act He got the most joy when he was on stage playing, and that smile was two hundred percent genuine. And that is the truth.
“All I can say is, other than that, he was sweet. He was kind. I had these incredible times where he would call me on the road and leave messages on my answering machine. He didn’t call my house. once or twice—he called my house perhaps ten or fifteen times. Fortunately, now I’ve missed the call a few times and was able to save those voicemail messages that I might play for some people one day, but they’re precious memories now. But some times when I was sleeping or just walking in from a concert and I heard my phone ring at two in the morning because Ed didn’t work on the same schedule and when? Ed wanted to talk to someone, he would call you no matter if it was five in the morning. And I’d see the phone, and I’d see the phone number, and it’d say,Ed Van Halen‘. And I’d say, “Well, I’ve got to talk Ed now.” And I would talk to him. My wife and I would have sat there or we would have been lying in bed. Edis calling. Let’s talk to him.’
“The proudest moment of his life was when he became a father.” Steve: has added. “I used to be there with him Wolfgang was born—it was true when I met him. And then, a year and a half later, I’m on his beach in Malibu, playing volleyball with him [his then-wife] Valery and some other guys. Wolfgangis walking around in his diapers. And those are the times I appreciate the most, just being ordinary Eddie:and not having to see any nonsense from other band members or deal with managers or tour managers all trying to keep you out.
“One of the other great things was when I went to the show, Ed it will be like this. “You never have to knock on the dressing room door. You come in. I would walk in the dressing room, and Ed would be half-naked, would change to go on stage. I say, “You want me to go?” And he’d be like, ‘No, man.’ Sit down. come on You are a family. And Alex: [Van Halen], same way, man. He treated me like a brother.
“The only regret I have is that I never took more pictures. But back in the day, especially in the early 90s, that wasn’t something we did. But I have enough memories to last me a lifetime.”
Eddie: died October 2020 at St. John’s Hospital in Santa Monica, California.
The icon VAN HALEN the ax died of complications caused by cancer, his son confirmed.
Rolling Stone magazine has been classified Eddie Van Halen Number 8 on his list of 100 Greatest Guitarists.
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